Giselle Whiteaker

Freelance Journalism Course Graduate

Giselle Whiteaker

“My first commissioned article was a feature on Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There is no way I would have tackled a subject like this before this online journalism course.”

I have always enjoyed writing and whenever I travel, I write about it for a select group of friends. They have been telling me for years that I should write professionally. I once worked for a newspaper in Dubai, but as a Marketing Director, not as a journalist. I did write the occasional travel feature for the paper for my own enjoyment.

With little idea of what to do once I finish my contract as a marketing advisor in Vietnam, which still involves writing, but press releases and marketing collateral, I decided to enrol in the Professional Freelance Journalism Course with the Morris Journalism Academy. My aim was to improve my writing technique and learn more about finding opportunities to write. I figured the skills I learnt would also help with getting my press releases into print.

Enjoy flexibility.

This online journalism course was packed full of the practical information I was looking for and while it’s tailored to the Australian media scene, the information is equally valid for international media. One of the huge benefits for me was the flexibility of the course. This meant I could squeeze it in around my work commitments.

It contained not only the technical aspects of writing that I wanted to improve on, but also the ins and outs of how to get published, which is what initially interested me. There’s no point writing for the public if you don’t know how to get an editor interested first.

The personal feedback I received from my tutor on how I could improve my writing and also important tips to take into account along the way, was invaluable. This has given me the confidence to get out there and start building a portfolio.

See your name in print.

My first commissioned article was surprisingly not a travel piece. It was feature on Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I had the good fortune to meet one of the few survivors of the former prison and it progressed from there. There is no way I would have tackled a subject like this before this online journalism course.

I have already submitted another article for the same magazine – this time a fun comparison of the traffic laws in Ho Chi Minh City with the people’s driving methods. They have also accepted a travel piece for the issue after that. I am pitching a few other magazines and newspapers also and getting some encouraging responses.

My plan is to write whenever I can while I finish my current contract and during this time I will develop relationships with international media and actively seek work as a freelance journalist. It’s the Professional Freelance Journalism Course that has given me the toolbox to work with to make this possible.

Time to send another pitch!

Giselle Whiteaker

Request a Course Guide & Pricing Information

“I am 36 years of age and looking for a change in how I earn a living. Completing the journalism course is enabling me to move from a job I don’t really enjoy to one that provides me with a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure.”

“My pitch to Blitz martial arts magazine was a break away from my pitches to travel publications and it turned out to be my breakthrough. Within a year, I had three articles published with the magazine.”

“The Professional Journalism Course is about making a career out of your limited abilities to write and your passions and areas of interest. No matter what age, gender or lifestyle you have ... this online journalism course will give you the best chance at achieving those goals.”

“I can honestly say that a three-year degree at university didn’t teach me as much as the Morris Journalism Academy course taught me in six months... Now I’m brimming with ideas and prospective stories that I can’t wait to get out to editors.”

“I have written multiple times for Ralph, Soccer International, au.fourfourtwo.com, Audio Technology, Hyper, www.classicrockmagazine.com, National Liquor News and Poker News Australasia & Pacific. All my own interests, all from the comfort of my own home.”

“The material really speaks to you as a freelance writing professional, giving you the chance to try new ideas, explore new subjects and develop a strong writing style. It is challenging – but very worth it.”

"Thanks to course notes developed by industry professionals, I knew how to approach, and how to not approach, a busy editor. I just had my first feature-length article published in the Australian outdoor magazine Great Walks and received my first pay cheque."

“All in all the skills you learn in the course are enough to get started as a writer. If you can come up with the grit and stay focused on success; the opportunity is there to learn and get started in a new adventure.”

“With a bit of practice, a lot of research and the right tools, you can write about almost anything. As a result, Cleo magazine has just published one of my articles...Thanks to the Morris Journalism Academy, I have all the information I need to do what I love and get paid for it.”

“Some of my articles have already been published online and I have submitted several more to a variety of print publications. I have also taken the skills I learnt in the course and started my own web content writing business called Pro-Content Australia.”

“I’m now a regular freelance photo journalist/contributor for a major local paper, and multiple magazine publication companies... As I was studying it was like the words were falling off the pages and becoming a reality, pretty much everything the course said came true.”

“Within weeks of finishing the journalism course, I had introduced myself to the editor of a commercial newspaper, and was commissioned to write an article. It was published in a Saturday edition as a double page feature.”

“...two months before I finished this freelance journalism course, I had written two articles for a publishing company in the ACT. I was commissioned to write the Victorian section of their upcoming publication Australia – The Education Destination.”

“Since completing the Morris Journalism Academy Course I had articles published in motoring and defence-related magazines in Australia, NZ and the UK ... I found the distance learning course interesting and fun to do.”

“...I have had articles on my travels to Mongolia published in The Age newspaper in Melbourne. I would highly recommend this journalism course to anyone looking to live the dream of writing for a living.”

“Within a month of finishing the course, I had my first article published as a double page spread in Inside Football magazine. Not long after, I was fortunate enough to have one of my human interest articles published as the cover story for the SA Weekend magazine”

“I have written over 100 album reviews, most of which have been published on some of the most prominent music websites in Australia (FasterLouder, The Dwarf, Cyclic Defrost, LiveGuide). I highly recommend the Academy to any writers out there.”

“I have successfully been published twice in The Moroccan Times newspaper during the course of my studies. My goal is to continue to write and publish travel and life style articles. I would highly recommend the course to any budding journalist.”

“The level of instruction at the Morris Journalism Academy is outstanding and there’s no better way to be prepared for a career in freelance journalism than being taught by people who work in the industry.”

“My dream was to be published in a glossy magazine and just before I graduated, I achieved this. My 600-word piece on the beach village of Bargara, near Bundaberg, was a winner in the July edition of On the Road.”

"Five months after graduating from the course, I independently published my first magazine. 52 pages of fashion, beauty, lifestyle and inspirational stories collected, organised and some written by me - the editor and publisher of i-am magazine."

“Since completing my course, I have been commissioned to write for Custom Kitcar. The first issue of this new magazine had four of my articles while the second issue will have up to six articles. So I have been published with an on going contract for which I will be paid.”

“In the twelve months after completing this journalism course, I’ve already earned twice the course fees. When I transition to full-time writing, I know I can get published and paid well for it. Completing this journalism course has given me the confidence to believe I can do it.”

“About six months after completing the course I started working at Reader’s Digest, where I garnered a lot of experience across a mix of advertising, copywriting and journalism-based assignments. Without having done the course, I wouldn’t have even got a look-in for the position…”

“My first commissioned article was a feature on Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I had the good fortune to meet one of the few survivors of the former prison and it progressed from there. There is no way I would have tackled a subject like this before...”

“Thanks to the Morris Academy of Journalism, I built up the confidence, and practical skills, I was lacking, to actually get published - and not just once, but several times! … After completing my course I felt like I obtained the final tools I needed.”

“. . . I’ve had multiple articles printed in a national publication – Inside Football magazine. Seeing your name (and now photo) in print is one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. The fact that they also pay me to write about something I love is an additional bonus.”

“I was encouraged to write outside my comfort zone, writing articles on subjects that were diverse and that I would not have considered before... I found myself to be growing in confidence, not only with my writing, but also in marketing the articles I wrote.”

“Now, I have a portfolio of work featured in several different publications – one of my humour pieces even made it to the Huffington Post’s front page. I’ve built great relationships with editors, which has led to a steady stream of commissions.”

“I have learned the fundamentals of the trade and how to give editors what they want. Throughout the course, you are encouraged to write articles that you are able to use in the future. The course made sure you are industry-ready, rather than introducing a bunch of irrelevant theories.”

“I am grateful to my tutor and to the Morris Journalism Academy for providing me with the skills to build a freelance writing career ... and my income from freelance writing has already covered the costs of this course”

“I was thrilled to find the first article I sent off to a magazine was accepted for publication. It gave me hope for my new future career as a writer and as you can imagine, it was an exciting moment in our household.”

Please direct any questions you may have to the Academy: Phone +61 (2) 9327-7778 or email [email protected]

We appreciate that you may wish to speak with someone who has completed the course, however, we respect our graduates time and privacy and must be mindful of their own professional commitments. We therefore ask that you contact us directly.

ABOUT THE MORRIS JOURNALISM ACADEMY

The Morris Journalism Academy has proudly provided journalism courses and training since 2004. Our directors and principles have been involved in all aspects of media work and distance education for over 30 years and we have provided online journalism courses to students in over 80 countries and territories.

FIND US IN YOUR LOCATION

Courses available to anyone in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Canberra and all regional and metropolitan areas. As the course is conducted online, you can undertake it from any location in the world. Morris Journalism Academy is a division of Australian News and Feature Service Pty Ltd. Our sister college in the United Kingdom is the British College of Journalism.